After covering more than 22,000 kilometers in 42 days, using 127 different modes of transportation across 15 cities, Ahmed Magdy, a medical student at Al-Azhar University, began his dream journey around the world—earning the nickname “Ibn Battuta of Fayoum.” The first stop of this adventure was Germany and France during Ramadan, as part of a broader tour across 19 European countries.

Ahmed recalls that what first struck him upon arriving in southern Germany was the ease of traffic flow—no congestion, no noise, no stress. With fasting hours lasting 20 hours, he found comfort in breaking his fast at the Islamic Center, joining the Muslim community in organizing and supervising the meals.

He describes three unforgettable experiences in Germany. The first was stumbling upon a music hall in a small village, where over 200 elderly men and women—most above 70 years old—gather regularly to enjoy symphonies performed by youth aged 10 to 18. These same seniors also manage a charity shop, collecting surplus food and goods, repackaging them, and selling at symbolic prices to support the poor. Astonishingly, the oldest volunteer there was 92 years old.

The second highlight was meeting Bruno, a well-known figure in Stuttgart now in his nineties. Bruno has visited Egypt since 1953, owns a small house in Luxor, speaks fluent Arabic, sings Mohamed Mounir’s songs, and even wrote a book in German titled Meet Islam, where he explains Islamic teachings and traditions. When asked about Egypt’s solution, he replied without hesitation: “Education.” He added, “In Egypt, students are given biscuits in schools, but then throw the wrappers in the streets. Wouldn’t it be better to feed their minds first?”

In Paris, Ahmed was struck on his first morning by the sight of nearly everyone exercising in the streets. He admired the “Vélib” bicycle rental system launched in 2007, which enabled over 120 million rides and eased the city’s traffic. Every evening, he joined locals in watching Euro Cup matches like Spain vs. Italy, where the true spirit of sportsmanship left a lasting impression.